Quick slant: FSU’s five-game winning streak is its longest in the series, which began in 1958. The only other time the Gators and Seminoles met with first-year head coaches was 1960, when UF’s Ray Graves faced FSU’s Bill Peterson. Gators are 7.5-point favorites. FSU had been favored every season since 2010.

About UF (8-3): Coach Dan Mullen’s offense has totaled 550 yards or more in consecutive games, including at least 200 rushing yards. The Gators will look to establish the run against the Seminoles, who allow an average of just 3.3 yards per carry, and not place the game on the shoulders of quarterback Feleipe Franks. Franks has vastly improved - his 26 total touchdowns are 10 more than any UF signal caller since Tim Tebow accounted for 35 in 2009. Franks still has his bouts with faulty decision-making, inaccuracy and killer turnovers - five of his nine this season were in losses. Two weeks ago against South Carolina, Jordan Scarlett and Lamical Perine each rushed for 100 yards for the second time this season. The Gators’ defense needs to limit explosive plays, having allowed 17 plays of 20 yards or more during the past three games against FBS competition. Nickelback Chauncey Gardner-Johnson quietly is having a big year and silencing critics of his tackling ability. Gardner-Johnson is third on the team with 64 stops, including eight for loss (three sacks). He also has four passes defensed, including a pick-six to open last week’s Idaho game.

About FSU (5-6): FSU’s offense has scored fewer than 14 points in four games and needed a 74-yard touchdown pass in the final two minutes to slip by Boston College 22-21 last week. The Seminoles, though, still have some dangerous playmakers, beginning with quarterback Deondre Francois and tailback Cam Akers. For the third time this season and sixth time in his career, Francois rallied the Seminoles after trailing after halftime. He averages 257.7 yards, with 14 touchdowns, but also has 10 interceptions. Akers is coming off a 156-yard day, highlighted by a 55-yard run - his third run of 50 yards or longer this season. The Seminoles’ ability to stop the run - FSU ranks 35th of 130 teams nationally (135.5 yards per game) - is the strength of the defense. But FSU has been susceptible to the pass, allowing 270 yards per game - 117th of 130 teams nationally. A week ago, the secondary featured one senior, two sophomores and two first-year freshmen, including highly touted cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. - who has a team-high eighth pass break-ups.

Three things to watch:

1. Pass rush. Both teams have 27 sacks and a top pass rusher - Jachai Polite (8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles) for UF and Brian Burns (10 sacks, three FFs). The game could hinge on who most can affect the quarterback.

2. Takeaways. The Gators failed to generate one during losses to Georgia and Missouri, but have three in the past two games giving UF 21 takeaways this season and plus-seven turnover margin. FSU has generated 15 takeaways and has a minus-eight turnover margin.

3. UF sophomore Kadarius Toney. Toney is coming off a career-high six catches - for 54 yards - against Idaho has seen an increased workload the past three games. Toney averages 11.1 yards on 40 touches from scrimmage, with 20 of those going for first downs. He needs the ball in his hands against the Seminoles.

Pregame reading, viewing and listening: Check out these articles, videos and podcasts previewing the Gators’ visit to Florida State.